Jonathan Wall appointed as Controller of 5 live sports extra
Jonathan Wall has been appointed as Controller of Radio 5 live and sports extra.
Peter Salmon, Director of BBC North, says: “Jonathan has shown enormous commitment to BBC Radio 5 live already and now earns the right to take on one of the best Controller roles in the BBC. He played a crucial role in the highly successful move of the station to Salford and helped build a talent roster and schedule that has just clocked up a record number of successive quarters of over six million listeners. More than anything, Jonathan has a passion for Radio 5 live’s audience and I am certain he is going to make a superb station leader.”
As Controller, BBC Radio 5 live, Wall will have overall responsibility for the editorial and strategic direction of both Radio 5 live and sports extra. Reporting to Peter Salmon, he will sit on the BBC North board as well as the BBC Radio board.
Jonathan Wall began his career at BBC Radio Humberside before moving into BBC Sport. He later became Editor, 5live Sport, before being appointed Deputy Controller and Commissioning Editor, 5 live, in July 2008.
Jonathan Wall comments: “It’s a privilege to be given this opportunity – for me the best job in British radio. I inherit a station in good health after the successful move to Salford and the wonderful London 2012 coverage. We have the potential to build on all of that and grow even stronger. I want to wake up every day knowing we are delivering live radio that you don’t hear anywhere else in the UK. We will look to make a bigger impact with our news journalism and continue to bring people together for major events off and on air. I have a wonderfully committed and supportive team to help achieve all this with and am looking forward to getting started.”
He replaces Adrian van Klaveren who has taken over responsibility for the BBC’s forthcoming coverage of the centenary of the First World War. Based at MediaCityUK, Wall takes up the post of Controller of BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live sports extra immediately, having worked as Acting Controller of the station.
Earlier this week, Radio 5 live signed a new deal through to 2016 to bring racing coverage, starting with the Cheltenham Festival in March 2013.
BBC Radio 5 live also continues to offer major news coverage and debate with its award-winning Breakfast and Drive programmes at the heart of the station. The network covered the US Presidential election and the subsequent inauguration. Recently, both Victoria Derbyshire and Shelagh Fogarty’s programmes have covered challenging current issues. Victoria Derbyshire broadcast live from both an abortion clinic and an animal testing laboratory. As well as her weekly programme from Milbank, Shelagh Fogarty’s programme was the first to broadcast live from the House of Lords.
